Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 380: Just That Shallow

Qin Yao crouched at the entrance of the official residence, waiting for about half an hour, when a Red Armor Female Soldier strode out.

Her eyes skimmed over, not noticing Qin Yao squatting by the door at first glance.

Qin Yao raised her hand and smiled warmly, "Hi!"

Only then did the female soldier notice the person squatting by her feet.

She nodded to Qin Yao, gesturing for her to follow inside.

The female soldier thought Qin Yao had changed her mind. As she led the way, she looked her up and down with satisfaction, even reaching out to touch her, intending to see if she was sturdy enough.

Of course, she didn’t succeed. Her hand was just reaching out when Qin Yao grabbed it gently and lowered it.

The female soldier wasn’t angry at all; instead, she smiled at her. Qin Yao’s swift reaction delighted her, confirming that the general had indeed chosen the right person.

Arriving at Mu Ling’s room, the soldier indicated for Qin Yao to wait while she stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"General, Qin Yao is here."

"Enter." A woman’s voice came from inside, sounding in good spirits.

The female soldier pushed open the door, raising her hand to invite Qin Yao in. Before closing the door, she smiled kindly at her, thinking that since they’d be teammates in the future, the standards should naturally be different—it seemed Qin Yao had character.

With the door closed, the woman lying under the covers in the room slightly leaned forward, smiling and gesturing for Qin Yao to come closer.

Qin Yao didn’t expect Mu Ling to be so relaxed in private, lying in a warm bed with a table right at the headboard, laden with roast chicken, hot wine, dried fruits, and pastries.

On her knees was an open picture book, plainly visible to Qin Yao. It was a collection of handsome men’s portraits, complete with little stories.

Qin Yao: It’s just like how I am at home!

"It’s good that you’ve thought it over. Tell me, how do you plan to handle your family relationships? Do you need my help to get a divorce? If there are children and you want them, the entire clan couldn’t stop a mother from taking her kids."

Mu Ling, with her only finger exposed outside the covers, turned a page of the picture book, casually pointing at the white jade pendant beside the plate of pastries on the small table.

Things given away would never be taken back. Because a general’s dignity does not allow it!

Qin Yao collected the jade pendant but didn’t speak.

Her silence made Mu Ling realize that the situation was probably not as she expected. She closed the picture book, frowned, and looked over, "Weren’t you here to join the Princess Guard?"

Qin Yao smiled.

Mu Ling’s previously smiling face instantly darkened, and she pointed toward the door, "Get out!"

Qin Yao stood by the bed, completely still. Mu Ling, enraged, kicked off the warm covers, grabbed the sword hanging by the bed, and fiercely stabbed toward Qin Yao’s chest.

But she remained motionless, merely raising two fingers lightly to catch the incoming sword, her face unchanged. Mu Ling’s face reddened with shock as she exerted all her strength to push the sword forward, but it wouldn’t budge.

Qin Yao smiled slightly, "General, women should help women. Can you do me a favor?"

"How strong are you!" Mu Ling didn’t hear what Qin Yao said. Her sword wouldn’t move, so with her empty left hand, she grabbed the bedside table to smash it at Qin Yao. The food on the table scattered to the floor.

However, there was a "crack" sound of breaking wood—the table shattered into pieces in her hand.

The commotion startled the female soldier outside, who asked nervously, "General?!"

"Do not come in!" Mu Ling shouted angrily.

The female soldier frowned suspiciously. Why did the general’s voice seem a bit strange? 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

How could it not be strange? Qin Yao had seized her sword, twisted her arms behind her back, pinned her face into the bedding, riding on her back like a fish on a cutting board, unable to move, just waiting for the knife to come down and kill the fish.

Of course, Qin Yao wouldn’t do that. She was here to ask for help, not to unleash violence.

Leaning down to Mu Ling’s ear, she asked, "If I let go, can we sit down and talk calmly, General?"

Mu Ling roared, "Is this how you ask for help?"

She came with nothing but herself, expecting to beat up the person she wanted help from—what kind of madness is this?

Qin Yao evidently realized this wasn’t appropriate, flatteringly saying, "This matter is just a word for the General, but for a village woman like me, it’s as hard as climbing to the heavens."

Mu Ling mocked, "If you just join the Princess Guard, who in the entire Zijing Mansion would dare trouble you?"

Qin Yao: "How about I give you a hundred taels if it works out?"

Mu Ling tried to break free but was held down harder, annoyed, "A mere hundred taels? What do you take this general for?"

Qin Yao: "Then two hundred taels."

Mu Ling gritted her teeth bitterly. The woman on her back looked much weaker than her, yet it was like Mount Tai crushing down, pressing so hard it felt like her insides might explode. "You’re bribing; I could have you arrested and executed immediately!"

"Five hundred taels, no more, General!" Qin Yao said with a look of distress.

It was a pity Mu Ling couldn’t see it, exhausted from struggling, her forehead covered in sweat, with hair sticking to her face and neck, looking messy and uncomfortable.

Qin Yao saw she was out of strength and then released her, quickly jumping off the bed.

The general lived up to her title, even as she was exhausted she managed to spring up and swing a sword at Qin Yao.

But of course, it didn’t hit. Qin Yao kicked her sword instantly, pinning it to the wall so tightly it couldn’t be pulled out.

Mu Ling took deep breaths, her eyes furious with red veins. Was she angry because Qin Yao was too arrogant, or because she herself was powerless?

The two stared at each other for a tense moment, Mu Ling finally plopped down on the edge of the bed, resting her hands on her thighs impatiently asking, "What exactly is the matter!"

Qin Yao quickly explained about the Fulong Trading Company’s cargo ship being detained by the Cao Yun Bureau. Seeing no expression change on Mu Ling’s face, she knew she’d found the right person. For her, it was indeed just a word.

A task for the Princess Guard—who would dare defy?

Mu Ling sighed, finally evening out her breath that had been held in.

Scanning Qin Yao from top to bottom, she felt very unconvinced. But reason told her that even practicing another hundred years wouldn’t harm Qin Yao in the slightest.

Her strength wasn’t just terrifying; her martial arts were also impressive, far from what a mere village woman could possess.

"Qin Yao, this general is now very curious about you. A twenty-year-old woman, growing up in the countryside, eventually ends up in the Liu Family Village of Zijing Mansion, marrying a widower with four kids. What are you after?"

Qin Yao made something up: "I care for his looks, care for his obedience—it’s that shallow."

Mu Ling found her expression surprisingly sincere, utterly shocked.

She scrutinized Qin Yao’s face, suspecting there might be a four or fifty-year-old monstrous old woman behind that youthful visage.

Qin Yao’s mature martial arts and seamless composure couldn’t possibly belong to a twenty-year-old woman.

Relying on her soul transmigration, Qin Yao feared nothing. She thought, "Look all you want; it’s not like you can find an exorcist to pull my soul out, right?"